System for conveying gas under pressure



(No Model.)

J. A.M0COR1VIICK.

SYSTEM POR CONVEYING GAS UNDER PRESSURE.

No. 335,467. Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

NV PETERS, Phummhagnpher. wnsmngwn. u. c.

NiTn STATES PATENT Fries@ JUNIUS A. MCCORMICK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING GAS UNDER PRESSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 335,467, dated February 2, 1856.

Application filed December 12, 1885. Serial No. 185,408. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J UNrUs A. McCormick, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Systems for Conveying Gas Under Pressure;y and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention has relation to systems f 'or the conveyance of fluids under pressure. and particularly for the conveyance of natural gas, and has special reference to the peculiar means for preventing leakage at the joints or couplings set forth in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 318,009, granted to me the 19th day of May, 1885, wherein I have described the use and application of a liquid seal to the `chambers or chambered casings surrounding the joints, such liquid being maintained under pressure by the pressure of the fluid flowing through the conduit, which latter is allowed access to the said sealing-chamber or to obtain access thereto by leakage. According to the provisions of said patent the pressure upon the sealing-liquid is obtained by allowing the gas from the main to escape into the chamber or casing containing` the liquid, the joints being made open or the ends of the adjoining sections separated within the casings, or such other provision made that the gas escaping from the joints within thecasings shall exert its pressure directly upon the fluid contained therein, causing the same to exert a compressing tendency upon the packing at the seams, and thus effectually seal the seams.

The present invention contemplates the employment of the liquid or other fluid seal, but furthermore embraces the idea of connecting all the casings with a common source of liquid or iiuid supply, which latter is connected to the main in such a manner that the contents will be under the pressure of the gas7 and an equalization of pressure thereby obtained between the interior of the main and the interior of the casing.

My invention furthermore contemplates the provision of means for maintaining a supply of liquid or other fluid in each of the jointcasings, and a constant pressure therein equal to the pressure within the main.

My invention also contemplates the provision ofmeans for detecting any escape of the sealing-liquid or other fluid contained within the joint.

My invention accordingly consists in the combination, with a gas-conduit having its joints surrounded by chambered casings adapted to receive a sealingfluid, of a tank containing a supply of the iiuid, and communicating at or near its bottom with a liquid or other fiuid supply pipe having branches leading to two or more casings, and communicating above its fluid contents with a branch leading from the main, whereby the pressure upon the fluid is the same as the pressure upon thejoint-packing, and an equalization ol' such pressure is always maintained.

My invention also consists in the combination,with two or more casings surrounding the joints of a main and communicating with a common supply-pipe, of a tank for containingasealing-iluid, said tank being in communication with said supply-pipe and with the interior of the main, whereby the sealing-Huid will be injected into the casing by the pressure of the fluid passing through the main, and the pressure of said sealing-fluid maintained at an equal degree with that of' the pressure withinthe main.

My invention also consists in the combination, with a main for the conveyance of fluids under pressure having its joints inclosed by chambered casings adapted to contain sealingfiuid, of a tank for the supply of sealing-Huid to the casings, said tank being in communication with said casing and in separate communication wit-l1 the main, and provided with a gage, whereby the height of the fluid contents of said tank may be observed.

My invention finally consists in the combination, with a main for the conveyance of lluids under pressure and with chambered easings surrounding the joints and receiving sealingliquid from a tank or common source of supply, said tank being in communication with the main, of a gage attached to said tank and adapted to indicate by the rise and fall of the liquid contents thereof the existence of leakage from any of the casings.

IOO

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is represented iu longitudinal section a length or section of high-pressure gas-conduit having my improvements applied, A designates the main, the several sections of which are coupled together and provided with chambered casings of any approved form adapted for the reception of sealing-liquid, and preferably with the casings shown at B B B2, the casing B being the same as represented in my patent aforesaid. Each of these casings is in communication by a branch pipe, a, with a liquid-supply pipe, 2, located above or apart from the main and running parallel thereto. 4

3 designates a stationary tank,of any desired capacity, which is adapted to contain a supply of the sealing-liquid or semi-liquid which is to be used as a lling for the casings. The supply-pipe 2 has a brauch, 4, leading therefrom at any suitable point to the supply-tank 3, with which itis connected at t-he lower portion of the latter. The chanibered portions vof the casings may be practically closed or shut off from all communication with the interior of the main, instead of being constructed and arranged as in my patents already referred to, wherein the gas from .the main is allowed to enter the casing, so as to exert pressure on the sealing-liquid.

In accordance wit-h the plan forming the subject of this description the tank 3 constitutes the sole or principal medium through which the pressure upon the sealing-liquid is obtained. For the purpose in view I lead a branch, 7, from the main at any point to the tank 3, connection being made with the tank at the top thereof or above the level of the liquid contents. I make the tank preferably vof an upright cylindrical form, and at one side arrange a suitable gage,9,communicating with the interior of the tank and adapted to indicate the rise and fall of the liquid or other fluid and the consequent condition of the casings, the liquid necessarily falling below its normal height in case of leakage of the liquid from the casing or any loss thereof from evaperation or otherwise. The pressure of the gas, however, above the liquid or fluid in the tank tends to keep the casingalways supplied, while any rapid decline or fall of the liquid or iiuid will indicate a positive leakage ,from the casing. As will be seen, the pressure upon the liquid or iiuid is always the same as the pressure upon the packing of the joints from within the pipe or main. The tendency,there fore, toward leakage at the joints is reduced to a minimum, the packing being entirely relieved from strain or undue internal pressure.

The various branches'and connections are provided with cocks or valves, which will allow the communication between casings through the common supply-pipe to be confined to one or more casings, and thus a means is afforded of at any time testing the condition of any particular casing.

The tank may be illed or replenished when necessary through and by means of apipe, 10, leading into it at any suitable point, such pipe being provided with a cock or valve to close it when not in use.

Having described my invention, what Idesire to claim, and secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In systems for the conveyance of gasor other iiuids under pressure, the combination, with the main or conduit having chambered joints or joint-casings adapted to contain a sealing-fluid, of feed or supply pipes communicating with said joint-chambers, a fluid-supply tank for the supply of fluids under pressure to said joints, and apipeleading from said conduit or main and adapted to communicate with said tank, whereby the sealing-Huid will be conveyed to the joint-chambers under the pressure of the fluid passing through the main.

2. In systems for the conveyance of iluids under pressure, the combination, with the main or conduit having chambered joint-casings adapted to contain a sealing-fluid, of a Huid-supply pipe connected to two or more casings, a Huid supply tank in communication with said supply-pipe and with the main, and a gage attached to said tank to indicate the height of the fluid contents thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of December, 1885.

J UN IUS A. MCCORMICK.

Witnesses:

A. A. MOORE, C. L. STRAUB. 

